Hi! How did you both come together to form Hi Tide, and what inspired you to create music as an acoustic duo from the Cayman Islands?
A:We are actually cousins, however we didn’t meet up until we were in our teens. Hi Tide was formed with a five piece band and not a duo at first, that changed as we went along. I always wrote music and Sean would once in awhile write himself, so it was only time before we developed Hi Tide’s sound as a duo.
Your music has been described as “a nice mix of pop with a dash of Cayman.” Can you explain how your Cayman Islands roots have influenced your sound and songwriting?
A: Because Cayman had a rich history of Captains and sailors from here that went around the world, they brought back music with them. Our first radio station was out of Fort Worth, Texas, so we have a rich history and love for country and blues. However we are like a melting put of different cultures and with that came the different exposure to music styles including from around the Caribbean. I guess you can say we developed our own take and tastes. It’s kinda like changing up a recipe to suit yourself. lol
Your single “Island in the Sun” has gained popularity. What was the inspiration behind this song, and what message do you hope to convey through it?
A: We aren’t the writers for this particular song, it was written by Tommy Lee James, Davis Naish and Deanna Walker. I’m not sure what they had in mind or how they came about it, we just had the pleasure of recording it and giving it our take on how we feel about it. The song is a love story, it’s speaking of that special person who makes you feel so warm and beautiful like an “Island In The Sun”.
You have released a DVD/CD set called “The Studio Center Sessions” and twelve other albums. How do you manage to maintain such a prolific output while also performing live shows and touring?
A: That’s a simple answer, we love music so much. We spend so much of our days preparing for our next project and shows. So like working out in a gym, we make the time, doing what you love to do is also a huge advantage. I won’t say it’s easy but it’s worth it..
Your original songs, such as “That’s What I’d Do”, “In Your Kiss”, and “Open Invitation”, have made international charts. What do you think sets your original music apart from other artists in the industry?
A: We didn’t really go out to be set apart from other artists in the industry, we just did what came natural to us musically. In fact we were trying to be like others and found our sound, in truth by a wonderful accident. Some days we are still trying to figure it out lol.
Your cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain” was released in Italy on a compilation album. How did this opportunity come about, and what was it like to put your own spin on such a classic song?
A: We’re not sure how that happened, we’ll go with luck. We grew up with Bob Marley’s songs and Waiting In Vain is a song that mostly all Caribbean people know. Our spin was due to how it makes us feel about the lyrics and melody, the delivery was all emotion.
Your music has received extensive airplay on Satellite radio, most notably on Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Radio, Sirius XM Ch. 59. How has this exposure helped grow your following and expand your reach as artists?
A: We’ve had such a pleasure to meet a lot of the NSR fans, No Shoes Nation. They are so supportive and spread love everywhere they go. Kenny has been such a great friend to us and having NSR playing our music has been an amazing honor and we are humbled by such a gift, we thank them everyday.
You have performed all over the world, including mainland USA, Hawaii, Canada, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. What have been some of your most memorable experiences from these tours and performances?
A: We actually love driving through a lot of the countries because of the landscapes. We were given such a gift and stopping to smell the roses along the way and seeing it first hand, I can say that is my favorite part. However meeting all the new faces and cultural differences opens you up to how wonderful this world really is, and performing for them and being well received. There’s not one thing I can pick out over another, cause it’s been a blast..
As a duo that never stops working, how do you balance your live performances with your time in the studio, writing and recording for future projects?
A: It never stops, we sleep, eat and drink music. We make the time and set schedules for everything. The tough part is balancing our daily life and relationships, but we do.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re currently working on or planning for the future?
A: I can give you a couple name drops with collaborations, Paul Overstreet and James Slater and a few others we can’t speak of yet. Keep you posted about upcoming events when they’re happening.